The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1918. THE TRIUMPH IN PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1918. THE TRIUMPH IN PALESTINE.

The splendid achievement of General Allenby in Palestine bids fair to rank as oue of the most brilliant exploits of the war. The sweeping movement made was entirely successful, the whole of the country from Jerusalem to Nazareth being practically cleared of the enemy. Nazareth, Samaria, Beisan and Jenin have been occupied, also the Tulkeram-Missudich railway. The key of the position appears to be Nablus (the Shechcm of the Bible), which was occupied subsequent to the capture of Missudich, in Samaria. The offensive commenced with an attack between the Jordan and the sea, the British and Indian troops advancing east of the Jerusalem—Nablus Road, the French advancing between Refat and the coast, while a strong British, Indian and Australian mounted force moved northward on the coastal plain, and eastward of the Jordan strong Hedjaz Arab detachments severed the railway communications leading northward, southw..,'d and westward from Derat ! )eraah), and naval units clear■;e coastal roads with gunfire. 'i i.o offensive bears evidence of most .painstaking and skilful jilan-

ning, while the extensive use of the cavalry contributed very largely to the complete success which was obtained. The Turks, without doubt, were taken by surprise, and the rapidity of the Allied movements gave the enemy neither time nor opportunity to make a determined stand, although the fighting in places was severe. Possibly as the Turks were in a wellfortified position they considered they could hold their own, but they have been driven back in a disorderly retreat, two of their armies being badly smashed; they have lost probably over 20,000 prisoners, and an enormous quantity of valuable booty. At Anabeta, midway between Tulkeram and Nablus, large bodies of the retreating enemy were cut off, with their guns and transport. The question seems to be not what the enemy has lost but what he can possibly save from the wreck. Both the offensives—along the coast and west of the Jordanwere carried out with marvellous impetus, the infantry pressing forward in the wake of the cavalry. An outstanding feature of the operations was the very useful work executed by the Arab forces of the King of Hedjaz m severing the railway communications north, south and west of Derat (or Deraah), 75 miles east of the of Acre, the latter being the terminal of the Plains of Sharon on the sea coast, and as Derat is a most important railway communication, being the only line available to the enemy in that region, it would seem that the Turks are in a very sorry plight. There can be no question that such a smashing blow as that winch General Alienby has delivered is bound to have a far-reaching effect of some magnitude, for the victory was on the greatest scale, and leaves the Allies in a position to practically sweep the Turks from Palestine. Moreover, the moral effect has also to be taken iuto consideration, and that is by no means an unimportant factor. At this particular period of the war such a complete and emphatic victory by the Allies cannot fail to materially influence our enemies, for it emphasises in no uncertain way the turn of the tide in the Allies' favor. There is every reason to consider that the backbone of the Turkish resistance in Palestine is broken. All the troops engaged in this brilliant achievement arc deserving of the highest praise, and General AlJenby has again shown that masterly strategy which places him m the forefront of the generals who are making history by their magnificent leadership. The Palestine victory is doubly welcome, and will inspire the Allied forces on other fronts.